Slot guard or shield.



J. I. MQGORMICK. SLOT GUARD OR SHIELD. APPLICATION rum) NOV.24,1913.

Patented July 21, 1914.

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UNITEB STATES" PATENT OFFICE.

JO HN I. MOCORMICK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO HARRY LYTTON A-ND WILLIAM LYITON, BO'IH OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SLOT GUARD 0R SHIELD;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Atplicatibn filed November 24, 1913. Serial N 03802725.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN I. MoCoRmoK, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and Stateof Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Slot Guards or Shields, of which the following is a specification. 1

This invention relates to improvements in slot guards or shields, particularly adapted,"

though not necessarily limited in its use with automobiles.

Heretofore considerable inconvenience and discomfort have been experienced by the operators of automobiles, in warm weather, in that the heated air from the engine is forced against thefeet of the operator, through the slots in the bottom of the car, and in which slots the controlling treadles operate.

In order to prevent the heated air from being directed against the operators feet through these slots, and at the same time form closures for the slots, without interfering with the operation of the trcadles is one of the objects of the present invention.

it further object is 'to provide an improved device of this character, which will be simple, durable, and cheap in construction, and effective and eflicient in operation, and which may be readily applied.

To the attainment of these ends, and to the accomplisnnnent of other new and useful objects as willappear, the invention consists in the features of novelty, in substantiullythe construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawing illustrating the invention, and in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of a portion of an automobile, having an attachment applied thereto, constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a removable portion of the floor of the vehicle through'which the slots pass, with the invention attached thereto. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 2, and slightly sepa- Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view taken on line 4-1, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing one of the treadles passing through oneof the slots, and the position the parts of the guard or shield will assume. I

Referring more particularly to'the drawing and in the present exeiiiplification of this invention; the numeral 10"des ignates generally a portioriof' the car body and 11 des ignates theengine hood. cent thedashboard 12 of the carfis aninclined-portibn of the floor or foot board'and which portiorr'or"board is preferably con' structed in sections 13,14 havingoverlapping'shou'lders 15,"and through which poitions 13, 1 1 slots 16 pass and through each of 'which slots a controlling treadle 17 passes, allof which is of the ordinary and well known construction.

A frame 18- having slots 19 therein is also provided and'is of sectional construction,

and the sections of the frame18 are secured to the sections 13,14 ofthe flobi so' that the slots will register. V

The'gua'rd or shield for heated air frompassin through the'slots l6, l9 may'beof any ce's'ired construction" and of any-suitable material. In the present invention this guard or shield is constructed of flexible material 20, arranged in two sections, one edgeof each section being secured to the lower face of the removable'floor section, and on opposite sides of the slot 16 therethrough. These sections of the flexible material 20, are of such a size that the faces of their adjacent ends will abut, and will project for some distance below the face of the floor section and in alinement with the slot 16 as shown in Fig. 4. The flexible sections may be secured to the floor in any suitable manner such as by means of clips 21 through which fastening devices 22 pass, and if desired additional sections 225 of flexible materiaL-similar to the sections 20 may also be secured to the face'of the re-' movable floor sectionby' the clips 2]. and fastening devices 22; These sections 23 are of a size'that the'adjacent edges'thereof will abut, in alinement' with the slot 16, but will be normally held substantially parallel'with' and substantially fiat against the face of the flo'or section. The controlling tre'adle 17, passing throi'igh the slot 16,,will also'pass Patented'July-21, 1914.

Arranged 'adja-" preventing the between the'sections'20'and"23 of the shield or guardand will cause' the latter tobe separated or deflected as shown in Fig. 5. Thus it will be manifest that inasmuch as the shieldor guard is constructed of flexible material, the treadles may be readily operated, and as they are moved forward or backward-in the slots, the sections of the shield or guard will yield to permit the treadles to operate and at the same time will form closures for the slots to prevent the heated air from passing therethrough. Inasmuch as the sections of the shield or guard are flexible, it will also be manifest that any draft or current of heated air directed against the under faces thereof, will have a tendency to force the sections together and closely about the portion of the controlling treadle passing throu h the slot. y

In order to permit t e floor sections 13, 14 to be readily removed, the shield or guard is of a sectional construction as shown in Fig. 3, a portion thereof being secured to the face of the floor section 13, while the portion which is secured to the section 14, of the floor, projects beyond the edge of the floor section as at 24 so that when the floor sections are assembled, the projecting portion 24 of the shield will overlap the portions of the shield which are secured to the floor section 13.

While in the present exemplification of this invention, the preferred form, and construction is herein shown and described, it

is to be understood that various changes may be made, in the details of construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit of this invention, therefore the drawings are to be considered as being merely diagrammatic.

What is claimed new is 1. In a motor vehicle the combination of a controlling lever, a sectional foot board, the sections of said board having recesses opening through their adjacent edges and cooperating to form a slot in which the lever operates, and a sectional flexible shield, the sections of the shield connected with the respective sections of the foot board and form-' ing a closure for the slot.

2. In a motor vehicle, the combination of a controlling lever, a sectional foot board, the sections of said board having recesses opening through their adjacent edges and cooperating to form a slot in which the lever operates, and a sectional flexible shield, the sections of the shield connected with the respective sections of the foot board and forming a closure for the slot, said shield sections bein detached from the lever, successive portions of the shield being deflected by the lever as the latter is moved lengthwise of the slot.

3. In a motor vehicle, the combination of a controlling lever, a sectional foot board,

said sections having recesses cooperating to form a guide slot in which the lever operates,

slot t roug whic the lever passes, and a.

guard for the slot, the said guard embodying separable flexible sections secured on oposite sides of the slot to the respective oard sections, detached from each other and proximate edges of the sections abutting and eing normally deflectedaway from the slot, said abutting portions being in alinement with the slot, and between which portions the lever operates.

5. In a motor vehicle, the combination of a sectional foot boardi projecting in directions across the slot, the

a controlling lever, a foot board comprising removable sections, the sections having cesses cooperating to form a guide slot through which the lever passes, -aguard for the slot, said guard embodying flexible sections secured on opposite sides of the slot to the respective board sections and to project;

in directions across the slot, the proximate edges of the guard sections abutting and bein normally deflected away from the slot, said abutting portions being in alinement with the slot, and between which portions the lever operates, and additional sections secured to the respective board sections to cooperate with the first recited guard sections and extending in directions across the slot,

the lever also passing between the proximate edges of the second recited'guard sections, said lever being detached from all of the sections;

6. In a motor vehicle, the combination of a sectional foot board, the sections having recesses opening through adjacent edges and cooperating to form a slot therethrou'gh,- a

controlling lever operating in the slot, and a guard for the slot, said guard embodying separable flexible members supported by the element 011 opposite sides of the slot, independent of the lever and'extending toward each other in directions across the slot, the proximate portions of the members abutting in alinement with the slot and beingdeflected away from the .face of the slotted element, and between which deflectedportions the lever operates.

7 The combination of an element embodying separable sections and having a slot extending through the sections and across the joint therebetween, a guard for the slot embodying se arable flexible members suprted by t e respective sections to extend in directions across the slot and from op posite sides thereof, the proximate edges of name to this specification, in the presence the members abutting in alinement with the of tWo subscribing. Witnesses, on this 22nd 10 slot, a lever operatingin the slot and pass .rday of November A. D. 1913. ing between the flexible members and de- JOHN I MCCORMICK.

\ tached from the members, said guard mem bers normally closin the slot-but yielding Witnesses: to the movement of t e lever. I I. M. BAKING,

In testimony whereof I have signed my FRANK N. REED.

Copies of this patient may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). 0. 

